The National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have launched a partnership to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in over 1,500 schools lacking reliable power. The project aims to provide sustainable energy to schools in underserved regions, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Palawan, North Cotabato, and Sulu.
The memorandum of agreement was signed by NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and DepEd secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, with the presence of Department of Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla and University of the Philippines president Angelo Jimenez. Under the agreement, DepEd will identify and prioritize the schools for electrification, while NEA will provide technical support through local electric cooperatives to install and monitor the solar PV systems.
The solar project, which aims to complete installation in one to two years, will be funded through a mix of government and private funds. Each school will receive a solar PV system with a battery backup, with a prototype for two-classroom setups already developed by UP College of Engineering.
This initiative not only addresses the long-standing issue of energy poverty in remote educational institutions but also aligns with the Philippines’ broader sustainability goals, reducing the reliance on non-renewable energy sources while providing long-term, low-cost energy solutions for schools in need.
